Ethnic Studies Instructor

College of the Desert; Palm Desert (CA); On-site; USD 35,000 - 52,000; Part time

Job summary

College of the Desert invites candidates for part-time adjunct instructor roles across Palm Desert and other campus sites including Indio, Mecca/Thermal, Desert Hot Springs, and Palm Springs. In-person teaching may occur day, evening, or weekend, at various campus locations.

The CODAA bargaining unit governs salary placement and adjunct pay scales. Responsibilities include planning, implementing, and evaluating courses aligned with official outlines, delivering syllabi, and supporting student

Qualifications

• Master's in African-American/Black/Africana Studies or Latino Studies, La Raza Studies, Chicana/o Studies, or Asian-American Studies, or Native American/ American Indian Studies ----OR----- Master's in Ethnic Studies ----OR----the equivalent.
• Sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students.

Responsibilities

• a. Meet classes/lab on day and times assigned
• b. Develop and implement instruction for each class/lab period which is consistent with the official course outline
• c. Develop and distribute the first week of class, a written syllabus for each course to communicate to students course objectives, grading criteria, and classroom policies
• d. Demonstrate respect for student rights as specified in District policy and applicable laws
• e. Ensure course textbooks and instructional materials are made available to students in a timely manner
• f. Refer students to tutoring and related student services when appropriate
• g. Supervise student in off-campus activities when participation is part of the instructor’s load
• a. Evaluate students' progress toward meeting course objectives; advise the students of course objectives, methods of evaluation and the results of the evaluation
• b. Return assignments and examination results in a timely fashion
• c. Assign grades to students in the manner provided by District policy and administrative procedure and prescribed by Ed Code and Title V regulations for the State of California
• d. Submit grade report forms and other reporting forms, including but not limited to census, progress reports, attendance records, and proctoring forms, in a timely and accurate manner
• a. Abide by department regulations concerning the proper use, care, and security of equipment
• b. Advise Supervisor of unsafe conditions or potential hazards and recommend solutions
• c. Fulfill all obligations as established in the current Collective Bargaining Agreement
• d. Keep official records required by District policy and administrative procedures and submit them in accordance with college procedures
• a. Advise enrolled students on such matters as: Learning skills, collateral or enrichment reading or experience opportunities for further understanding of the courses or subject field, career alternative/opportunities related to the subject field
• b. Provide academic assistance and related services to students during office hours
• c. Participate in the credit by examination program where applicable
• d. Participate in the development and review of curriculum as needed
• e. Participate in the development of alternative teaching modalities
• f. Schedule, announce to students in all classes, and maintain office hours
• g. Participate in advisory committee meetings as required
• h. Participate in professional development activities
• i. Attend and participate in department/center meetings when assigned by the District or shared governance
• j. Participate in the process of shared governance by contributing to the academic community through committee work on the department division, college and/or district level, or participate in other significant non-classroom college, district, or community activities
• k. Consult with Supervisor on personnel needs; assist with position announcements, recruitment, and screening/interviewing committees
• l. Participate in mentoring of new faculty as assigned

Job description

Under administrative leadership, it is the responsibility of the adjunct instructor to participate in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of educational programs, courses, and other experiences that will directly result in the educational growth of the students and support advancement of the vision, mission, and values of the community college district.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Classroom environment and unassigned faculty office environment. Classes may be at the Palm Desert Campus or one of our sites in Indio, Mecca/Thermal, Desert Hot Springs, or Palm Springs. Classes may be scheduled during the day, evening or weekends.

Examples of Job Duties

• a. Classroom Responsibilities
  • a. Meet classes/lab on day and times assigned
  • b. Develop and implement instruction for each class/lab period which is consistent with the official course outline
  • c. Develop and distribute the first week of class, a written syllabus for each course to communicate to students course objectives, grading criteria, and classroom policies
  • d. Demonstrate respect for student rights as specified in District policy and applicable laws
  • e. Ensure course textbooks and instructional materials are made available to students in a timely manner
  • f. Refer students to tutoring and related student services when appropriate
  • g. Supervise student in off-campus activities when participation is part of the instructor’s load
• b. Evaluation of Students
  • a. Evaluate students' progress toward meeting course objectives; advise the students of course objectives, methods of evaluation and the results of the evaluation
  • b. Return assignments and examination results in a timely fashion
  • c. Assign grades to students in the manner provided by District policy and administrative procedure and prescribed by Ed Code and Title V regulations for the State of California
  • d. Submit grade report forms and other reporting forms, including but not limited to census, progress reports, attendance records, and proctoring forms, in a timely and accurate manner
• Additional Responsibilities
  • a. Abide by department regulations concerning the proper use, care, and security of equipment
  • b. Advise Supervisor of unsafe conditions or potential hazards and recommend solutions
  • c. Fulfill all obligations as established in the current Collective Bargaining Agreement
  • d. Keep official records required by District policy and administrative procedures and submit them in accordance with college procedures
• Optional Duties*
  • a. Advise enrolled students on such matters as: Learning skills, collateral or enrichment reading or experience opportunities for further understanding of the courses or subject field, career alternative/opportunities related to the subject field
  • b. Provide academic assistance and related services to students during office hours
  • c. Participate in the credit by examination program where applicable
  • d. Participate in the development and review of curriculum as needed
  • e. Participate in the development of alternative teaching modalities
  • f. Schedule, announce to students in all classes, and maintain office hours
  • g. Participate in advisory committee meetings as required
  • h. Participate in professional development activities
  • i. Attend and participate in department/center meetings when assigned by the District or shared governance
  • j. Participate in the process of shared governance by contributing to the academic community through committee work on the department division, college and/or district level, or participate in other significant non-classroom college, district, or community activities
  • k. Consult with Supervisor on personnel needs; assist with position announcements, recruitment, and screening/interviewing committees
  • l. Participate in mentoring of new faculty as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's in African-American/Black/Africana Studies or Latino Studies, La Raza Studies, Chicana/o Studies, or Asian-American Studies, or Native American/ American Indian Studies ----OR----- Master's in Ethnic Studies ----OR----the equivalent.
• Sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students.

EQUIVALENCY REQUESTS & FOREIGN EQUIVALENCY EVALUATIONS

• If you do not clearly meet the minimum qualifications as they are defined, you must submit an Equivalency Request Form and narrative with your application.
• Degrees earned outside of the U.S. require that a Foreign Equivalency Evaluation be uploaded in addition to the foreign transcripts.
• Additional Equivalency Information is available by clicking here.

This posting is for a part-time instructor (adjunct) pool.

The primary modality of assignments will be in-person.

College of the Desert Adjunct Association (CODAA) Bargaining Unit.

SALARY PLACEMENT

• Salary Placement is according to the CODAA Collective Bargaining Agreement.
• For information on salary placement, please see the CODAA Collective Bargaining Agreement and Adjunct Salary Schedule.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Classroom and online environment and faculty office environment. Classes may be held at all campus locations, Palm Desert, Indio, Mecca-Thermal, Palm Springs, and/or Desert Hot Springs. Classes may be scheduled during the day, evening, or weekend and may include online synchronous and asynchronous teaching and learning.

REQUIRED IN YOUR APPLICATION

• List of References: References should include at least two supervisors and one colleague. Please include name, title, email and current phone numbers. Letters of reference will not be accepted in lieu of the required List of References.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS

• Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.
• College of the Desert does not offer sponsorship nor take over sponsorship for an employment VISA.
• Employment is contingent on residence in California.
• Salary placement will be contingent on all materials submitted for this position.
• Application materials must be received by the deadline.

TIMELINES

• For consideration, please apply by October 26, 2026. Late submissions will not be accepted.
• Interviews are tentatively scheduled in-person on December 17, 2026.
• Tentative schedule is subject to change based on District need.